Description

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Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 22 - 31; Vertebrae: 41 - 49. Diagnosis: at least 30 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch (30-41); 38-51 lateral line scales, with 7.5-9.5 above and 3.5 below; anal fin with three simple rays and 19-28 branched rays; dorsal-fin origin distinctly behind level of pelvic-fin insertions (Ref. 2759, 81279).

Common Names

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Kawara baladi , Arabic , Sudan

Alerio , Dinka, Northeastern (Dinka) , Sudan

Cin , Dinka, Northeastern (Dinka) , Sudan

Lang ager , Dinka, Northeastern (Dinka) , Sudan

Nyadiaar , Dinka, Northeastern (Dinka) , Sudan

Nyele , El Molo , Kenya

Characin , English , Ghana

Egyptian robber , English , Kenya

Silversides , English , Ghana

Siig-mölderkala , Estonian , Estonia

Asenti , Ewe , Ghana

Asentiwoe , Ewe , Ghana

Hohtoalesti , Finnish , Finland

Siikatetra , Finnish , Finland

Péré , French , Niger

Giccal , Fulfulde, Pulaar (Pulaar) , Senegal

Tewe , Ga , Ghana

Klawôlè , Guro , Ivory coast

Mazari , Hausa , Nigeria

Shemani , Hausa , Nigeria

Oza , Ijo , Nigeria

Kaya , Kanuri , Nigeria

Vaï , Kim , Chad

Van , Kim , Chad

Vore , Kim , Chad

Ba-borah , Limba, west-central , Sierra Leone

Konguy , Mende , Sierra Leone

Delete , Not specified , Kenya

Juse , Not specified , Kenya

Lelete , Not specified , Kenya

Girfiga , Nubian , Sudan

Cien , Nuer , Sudan

Egbagi , Nupe , Nigeria

Angara , Nyoro , Uganda

Kodo , Shilluk , Sudan

Saara , Sonink\u00e9 , Senegal

A-gbantan , Themne , Sierra Leone

Dorobela , Turkana , Kenya

Sèlinthe , Wolof , Senegal

Arefe , Yoruba , Nigeria

Basongirino , Zande , Sudan

Taxonomic Hierarchy

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Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Characiformes

Family: Alestidae

Genus: Alestes

Species: Alestes baremoze (Joannis, 1835)

Climate Zone

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Tropical

Location

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Africa: Senegal, Gambia, the coastal basins of the Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé, Bandama and Sassandra), Volta, Niger/Benué and Chad basin (Ref. 2880, 81279). Also present in Nile, Omo, Lake Albert and Lake Turkana (Ref. 2880, 28714). Three populations - previously as subspecies - may be distinguished by slight morphological differences but they have the same ecological charasterics: in Nile River, Lake Albert, Omo River and Lake Turkana ('baremoze'); in Senegal River, Gambia River, Tominé River, Volta basin, Niger basin and Chad basin ('soudaniensis'); in coastal basins of Côte d'Ivoire, namely Sassandra River, Bandama River and Comoé River ('eburneensis') (Ref. 42019).

Biology

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Mainly diurnal. There is considerable flexibility in its diet, A. baremoze shifts from zooplankton to zoobenthos, detritus and macrophytes as plankton densities decline (Ref. 28714). Occurs at a temperature range of 14.6-35.0°C. In the Malamfatori area (Tchad), seine-net fishery on the River Yobe depends on seasonal upstream (from Lake Chad) and downstream migration during the flood (August-December) and dry (January-March) seasons, respectively. Also, there is an intensive gillnet fishery from July-October at the river mouth. A. baremoze moves offshore (in Lake Chad) beginning March.

Habitat

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benthopelagic